Customizing your prompt

Would you like to know what directory you're in without using pwd?

• You can have your prompt reflect your current directory.
  • If you use tcsh, download the file shortpath.awk to your home directory (or another directory and make the appropriate changes in the command below) and insert the following in your .cshrc file in your home directory. 
    set base="`basename $HOST .biostat.harvard.edu`" # obviously, change .biostat.harvard.edu to reflect your domain 
    set histbang=! alias cd 'cd \!*; set prompt="[$histbang]${base}:`pwd | awk -F/ -f $HOME/shortpath.awk`>"'
  • If you use bash, insert the following in your .bashrc file in your home directory.  
    export PS1="your_user_id@\h:\w> "